The most involved thing we make, and the one we're proudest of.
It's two separate pieces. The balloon is cast by hand in stoneware slip from a mould we made ourselves, with a strong metal wire loop threaded through the clay. The basket beneath is cast and glazed the same way and hangs from the balloon on two wires. The seed goes in the basket. The birds land on the rim.
Once both are fired we paint them with a combination of glazes and fire them again to 1220C. That second firing vitrifies the clay, which is what makes it strong enough to live outdoors through a British winter, frost included.
It also means no two are the same. The glazes move in the kiln and we can't fully predict what comes out. That's the part we like most. Glaze combinations can be discussed.
Balloon measures ~22 cm in height and ~18 cm in width.
Basket measures 5 cm tall and 7.5 cm across.
Full drop, hook to base: ~50 cm.
Three holes in the base of the basket drain any rain that finds its way in.
And yes — it works. The blue tit in these photographs wasn't a paid actor.
Made to order. Each one is cast, glazed and fired for the person who ordered it, which takes two to three weeks. We have one finished and ready now — order that and it goes out within two working days.
Ships securely boxed and fully insured.
Made by three brothers in Hampshire. Every one cast, glazed and fired by hand, in the same workshop, by the same three people.
The most involved thing we make, and the one we're proudest of.
It's two separate pieces. The balloon is cast by hand in stoneware slip from a mould we made ourselves, with a strong metal wire loop threaded through the clay. The basket beneath is cast and glazed the same way and hangs from the balloon on two wires. The seed goes in the basket. The birds land on the rim.
Once both are fired we paint them with a combination of glazes and fire them again to 1220C. That second firing vitrifies the clay, which is what makes it strong enough to live outdoors through a British winter, frost included.
It also means no two are the same. The glazes move in the kiln and we can't fully predict what comes out. That's the part we like most. Glaze combinations can be discussed.
Balloon measures ~22 cm in height and ~18 cm in width.
Basket measures 5 cm tall and 7.5 cm across.
Full drop, hook to base: ~50 cm.
Three holes in the base of the basket drain any rain that finds its way in.
And yes — it works. The blue tit in these photographs wasn't a paid actor.
Made to order. Each one is cast, glazed and fired for the person who ordered it, which takes two to three weeks. We have one finished and ready now — order that and it goes out within two working days.
Ships securely boxed and fully insured.
Made by three brothers in Hampshire. Every one cast, glazed and fired by hand, in the same workshop, by the same three people.
